At South Works, dreams dashed once again

Editorials reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board, as determined by the members of the board, the editorial page editor and the publisher.|

May 24, 2018 | 5:20 PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has got to feel good about a batch of big, splashy projects in the works. The City Council just endorsed the bid to build the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Plans for the massive makeover of the North Branch Industrial Corridor in Lincoln Park are taking shape. And in the South Loop, a project to turn a 62-acre former railyard along the Chicago River into a sprawling community of residential, office, hotel and retail space is gaining steam.

But on the Far South Side, there was a project that had just as much potential to transform a chunk of the city — and in a place where sweeping change is desperately needed. On Thursday, the city learned this is one project Emanuel will have to file under “epic fail.”

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Ireland-based Emerald Living announced it has abandoned plans to build 20,000 homes on the south lakefront, on the South Works site of the former U.S. Steel complex. The Tribune’s Ryan Ori reported that the company, in a news release, said, “it is very regrettable we were unable to reach common ground with U.S. Steel based on the findings of our diligence works.” In April, Spanish developer Barcelona Housing Systems, which had been teaming up with Emerald Living on the South Works project, told the Tribune that plans to purchase and redevelop the land were on hold because of soil contamination issues at the site.

This isn’t the first time residents of the Far South Side have had their dreams of a South Works rebirth dashed. There was the $4 billion plan between U.S. Steel and Chicago-based McCaffery Interests to build 13,000 homes and a 1,500-slip marina. And a decade ago, Solo Cup envisioned the construction of a new factory at South Works. Both ideas went nowhere.

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Places like the South Works site that have been languishing for years should be a top-shelf priority for Emanuel. We said before that he ought to roll up his sleeves and make the redevelopment of the South Works site happen. Mr. Mayor, we’re still waiting.